The activities of the Lick–Carnegie Extrasolar Planet Search Program include precision Doppler based monitoring of over 1330 nearby F, G, K, and M stars for planets using radial velocity measurements at 2–3 m/s precision. It contributed over 70% of the exoplanets known as of 2010. These extrasolar planetary systems display a diversity of orbital periods, sizes, and eccentricities, providing new insight into the origins and evolution of planetary systems.

In September 2010, the team announced the discovery of Gliese 581 g in orbit around the red dwarfstarGliese 581. The observations place the planet in an area where liquid water could exist on the planet's surface, i.e. a habitable zone. If confirmed, this would be the first strong case for a potentially habitable Earth-like exoplanet yet discovered.[2][3]